Right, I may have mentioned a Who rewatch...

[fogsblue]

To be honest it's going on 1am here (bloody freezing) and I can't sleep (ooo, surprise surprise), don't feel like doing much and decided I felt like watching DW... From the beginning, while randomly adding thoughts here. Oh yes, I'm making a very odd, very very likely completely ridiculous commentary. Just warning you now, I make no guarantee of any orginal or interesting thoughts. In otherwords, my usual effort.


1x01 - Rose:

• I often wonder if there's anyone out there who can say they haven't been in a similar situation to Rose at some point in their life? But isn't that the point? Rose is meant to be easy to relate too.
• You know watching that little scene at the start between Rose and Mickey at the start on the fountain, they really come across more like friends than anything else. Least to me.
• Dummies are freaky. Just saying. Though I wonder if they'd make good dominoes.
• RUN!! Nope, have nothing else, just love that introduction of the Doctor
• Little scene in the elevator, you can see the Doctor is impressed that despite almost getting whacked on the head by a walking dummy, Rose is still thinking.
• "I'll be Mr Big & Serious, tell her that she should go home, I might get myself killed but it's ok. And then I'll poke my head back in and introduce myself. You know, just in case". *rolls eyes*
• Look, I do love Mickey, but to be honest in Rose he's a bit of a dick. Your girlfriend just saw her job get blown up (might have also had a weird near death experience you don't know about) and you want to go to the pub to watch a match?
• "What you doing here?" "I live here" "What d'you that for?" Yes, that's a brilliant question Doctor. Genius...
• How much of the Doctor's interest in Rose stems from her following him and making him answer her questions, even some of them? 'Cause I think he likes that she does that.
• Hehe, how many guys actually think the universe revolves around them??
• Ah yes, "I can feel it, the turn of the Earth" Cause that's a guaranteed way to make a girl forget you. That was so completely obvious Doctor. Mind you, that's a hell of a good line.
• In comparison "Kit off" really not a good line. Especially followed by "Don't read my emails". Privacy is all well and good but that's a great way to sound guilty of something.
• Seriously, Mickey trying to look tough and threatening at this stage... It's just priceless.I will give him credit for checking out the bin though.
• I like that we get proof that Rose isn't perfect either, she doesn't notice Mickey is looking a bit well, plastic. Along with the not noticing the Doctor getting strangle earlier. She's not perfect, but it makes her much more realistic.
• Side note, the music is bloody amazing. The piece when Rose steps into the TARDIS for the first time (I will remember what it's called later) is gorgeous.
• Ahh, one of the earliest signs that for a genius the Doctor is actually a complete idiot. See he doesn't want a companion for company, he needs one to point out all the obvious things he misses. I'm joking. Mostly.
• You know, I never noticed the way the Doctor rolls his eyes when Rose runs down to Mickey in the sewer. It's like a sign of what's to come. (Also a sign, the Doctor, ripping the head off the competition is not the best way to deal with it).
• This episode reflects a lot of themes that run through a lot of the show. Such as Rose rescuing the Doctor. Might be the fiirst time but it certainly won't be the last. Actually, I notice she looks rather scared (how did I never notice that before?) but she does what she can, which definitely required courage.
• It's a good thing Mickey develops so much, he really isn't that endearing at this stage.
• "Please come with me, please come with me"  and when she says no, he looks so sad. I mean you get the impression it hasn't been that long since the Time War and for the first time, he's met someone he thinks is worth knowing. And she says no. I mean even without knowing Rose was going to be a companion, you could see it that he desperately wanted her to come along. So he was going to reappear.
• Though I do admit Rose probably should have been a bit nicer to Mickey when she ran off, but I'm not entirely sure I blame her.

Final thoughts on Rose - I love this episode. It was actually the first time since my childhood I'd sat and watched an entire episode of the show. I'm very glad I started from the beginning of Nu Who. I think this does make a great introduction for those who hadn't seen the show before or not for a very long time. When it's a rewatch, you can see some of the themes that are going to be repeated. Just as simple as Rose asking the right questions (or seeing the obvious, as the case may be), Rose saving the Doctor while he's trying to save everyone else. Actually, I kind of think that's really what Rose does isn't it? She saves the Doctor, literally and not so (big words escape me right now) so he can, and often while he does, save everyone else. Right, see, stating the obvious, but still...

1x02 - The End of the World

• There's the Doctor attempting t be all impressive and it's not really working. Poor guy... Nice to know the desire to impress is even part of a higly sophisticated species.
• Right Doctor, well thought out plan, be impressive by showing someone the end of their planet. That's going to end well.
• He has such a smug look when he says it's empty the people have 'all left', not entirely sure it's appropriate.
• The face when Rose says he's all blue is hilarious too.
• Mind you, there's definitely something to the idea that he's seeing things anew through Roses eyes, the glee on his face as Rose encounters all these different aliens for the first time is rather sweet and adorable. And again, slightly smug, though I think that's cause he likes the fact she's gone silent in shock.
• Now I can't be the only person who's thought it, I'm sure, but one of the alien pairs looks like the Skeksis from The Dark Crystal.
• The Doctor is so damn cheap. Air from my lungs. And Rose wonders why he doesn't buy the chips...
• Does anyone else wonder if there's a not so subtle dig at the current obsession with being skinny and young with the creation of Cassandra?
• Ok, it may be childish, but the juke box as an iPod and the Doctor dancing to Tainted Love makes me giggle.
• Yes Doctor, it's possible throwing someone head first into a situation with the end of the world, some aliens that are rather shocking and oh yeah a human that looks like a trampoline might shock Rose just a little bit.
• Love this insight into Rose, that she wants to know about people (even the blue ones). Talking and connecting with Raffalo, it's sweet.
• "I'm talking to a twig" Well, who hasn't had a conversation with a plant at least once.
• Welcome to human beings 101 Doctor, most don't like their brains being messed with. And if they run off with someone they generally like a couple of details about the person.
• The banter begins, I love the jiggery-pokery and hullabaloo comments (also, that longing look). It's really something that develops brilliantly between the Doctor and Rose.
• And Rose is the bundle of laughs? You bought her to the end of her planet...
• Cassandra was a little boy... I always forget that comment. It's a little worrying. And bloody hilarious.
• Nine and Jabe have some fascinating interactions really. I mean they flirt a bit, but Jabe seems genuinely sympathetic. The Doctor just seems to like poeple who care and question.
• Toxic... A traditional ballad. Yep, that's the name for it....
• "5 billion years in the future and it still comes down to money" You can understand why the Doctor is rather disappointed by that.
• The heartbreaking look on the Doctor's face as he sees Jabe burn and her remains, the anger at Cassandra and her definition of people.
• I think the Doctor is honestly surprised by Rose asking for compassion for Cassandra. Though I think it's something he later realises is very much part of her character. 
• Oh, the way he takes her hand at the window... Still gets me everytime. Especially given teh conversation that follows on the street. The Doctor telling his story and Rose being caring and trying her best to offer her support. That and you can see the Doctor is being smitten by her optimism and hope. He didn't have a chance.

Final thoughts on The End of the World - Well, I did notice that there's definitely a theme of 'for a genius, the Doctor really is an idiot'. Happens at least 3 times in each of these episodes. Mind you, I'm 99% that's going to be the same in nearly every episode. But really, I admit, personally this is where I started thinking that Rose and the Doctor were rather good together, that there may be more than friendship growing between them. Only little hints at this stage sure, but that last conversation on the street corner is a big development in a sense. The fact he's telling her a little bit and she's offering her support. The rest of the episode is fun and exciting and a great way to remind you that the show is about Time and Space travel. That and not all aliens are monsters and not all monsters are alien.

Warning, I do like to ramble on apparently. Wait, that's not news is it? Never mind.

Comments

[bloose09.livejournal.com]

Yeah for sleep deprived commentary!

That's exactly what Rose does....save the Doctor so he can get back into the business of saving the Universe. In Rose, Mickey is not the best of boyfriends. It is all about character development when it comes to RTD's characters *stares at Moff*
Did you find Jackie really annoying in this episode? I certainly did.
Solely based on what we saw in RoseWas Rose running towards her life with the Doctor, or running form Mickey and Jackie?

End of the World:
RTD was blowing his entire special effects budget on this one episode.
The iPod and Tainted Love dance still make me laugh too. That's right we were born on the same day.
Jabe is not the last character to give her life for the Doctor. That is definitely a trend that continues to this day.
I totally agree with this: I think the Doctor is honestly surprised by Rose asking for compassion for Cassandra. Though I think it's something he later realises is very much part of her character.

You nailed this one too. You get the feeling that everything is going to be alright for them both: Oh, the way he takes her hand at the window... Still gets me everytime. Especially given teh conversation that follows on the street. The Doctor telling his story and Rose being caring and trying her best to offer her support. That and you can see the Doctor is being smitten by her optimism and hope. He didn't have a chance.


Thanks for sharing!

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

Mickey is not the best of boyfriends. It is all about character development when it comes to RTD's characters *stares at Moff*
Did you find Jackie really annoying in this episode? I certainly did.

To steal kilodalton's new abbreviation wrltstum (would really like to see this under Moffat). I miss the days when characters developed. I meann, Mickey wasn't a great guy at the start, there was potential and he cared about Rose, but he needed to grow up.
Jackie was incredibly annoying, if she'd stayed like that I think she would never have been the great character she actually was. She certainly wouldn't have helped Rose in PotW for example.

Was Rose running towards her life with the Doctor, or running form Mickey and Jackie?

Based on Rose alone, I really think it was a bit of both. We're shown fairly clearly that Rose is not exactly thrilled with her life as it is. She's bored and settled because she feels that's her only option. The Doctor offers her not just Earth but the universe, while she might have said no the first time she wasn't going to miss it again. A fact I think was seriously helped by Mickey clinging to her like he did.

[bloose09.livejournal.com]

You are so right about both Mickey and Jackie. They become so much more than what they were when we first meet them. Isn't that what the Doctor does, make people better? RTD was totally into that. It was almost a mantra for him. DW is firstly a character driven show and secondly a sci-fi one. Moff has completely forgotten this fact.

It would be hard to resist the lure of all of time and space. It is a wonder Rose said no the first time. That's right, he was only offering her space ;)

I really enjoyed your commentary.

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

Is it the Master who says that? "The man who makes people better". But yep, it's true. Even if it's not directly, such as in the case of Mickey and Jackie, his appearance in Rose's life and showing her what she could become in turn shows them they have so much more to offer.

Honestly, while I love what Rose saying no brings to things, I will never understand how she could. Doctor showed up and asked me I'd be gone before anyone could blink!

On a horrifying note, their will be more commentary when I continue watching. Cause really, this amuses me :D

[kilodalton]

... I always forget the 'little boy' comment too XD

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

It's gotta be just one of those random little comments snuck in there by the writer's but I do wonder.... Mind you, given she's a dlap of skin, anything is possible right?

[kilodalton]

Not gonna make a dirty comment about little flaps of skin. Nooooot gonna go there.

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

Oh, did you have to say that..... Did not want to think about that and now I can't stop...

Damn my brain!

[redcirce]

These two episodes are so fabulous. I'm always confused when people say they start new viewers off with Ten.

Seriously, Mickey trying to look tough and threatening at this stage.
This always makes me giggle. I mean, he's adorable, but not threatening in the least. I do like how he's trying to "protect" Rose though.

The heartbreaking look on the Doctor's face as he sees Jabe burn
I love this moment. Some great acting by CE in this ep.

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I understand the starting off with Ten either. Nine is fantastic and certainly the relationship between the Doctor and Rose makes more sense if you see it from the beginning.

I do like how he's trying to "protect" Rose though.
I agree with that. Even if he's a bit of a wimp this early on and not always the most sympathetic, he does still want to protect Rose.

[six.livejournal.com]

The first time I watched it, Mickey, Jackie and Rose (except for the time when she was swinging to save the Doctor) really annoyed me in the first episode. I can't believe how much I love them now and it's all thanks to the character development in RTD's era.

Toxic as a traditional ballad always makes me giggle. XD

[fogsblue.livejournal.com]

I really didn't like Mickey or Jackie at all. So glad they developed so much, they're some of my favourites now. As you say, thankfully in the RTD era we had that strange thing called character development. Rose on the other hand, I think I empathised so much with her straight from the start. I grew to love her very very quickly, but I always liked her.

5 billion years in the future and they have Britney Spears... It's terrifying :P